DragonFire Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Cast of Characters

  Map

  Treasure

  Batting Flies

  Unexpected Help

  Tea, Daggarts, and a Miracle

  Night Talk

  Druddums

  Another Danger

  Information

  Paladin

  An Evening Diversion

  Distinguished Visitors

  Talk

  Wizards’ Conclave

  Fight!

  Preparations

  Missing

  Bug

  A Dragon History

  Bug’s Box

  Botheration!

  A Tavern in the Town

  Just One Dance

  The Quiss Encounter

  The Doneel’s Story

  Unpleasant Surprises

  Mountain Encounter

  Another Surprise

  Snakes

  Enlisting Aid

  A Ropma Village

  On the Hunt

  Today or Tomorrow?

  The Frenzy Begins

  The Next Move

  Madness

  In the Canyon

  Grawlig Brawl

  Caught

  Mordakleeps in Your Dreams

  Out of the Frying Pan

  Good News, Mostly

  Stiff as Stakes

  From the Wizard’s Lair

  Who Are the Allies?

  Who Is the Enemy?

  Betrayal

  Discovery

  One Battle

  Another Battle

  Final Battle

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  About the Author

  Three Epic Journeys in The DragonKeeper Series

  Praise for Dragon Fire

  Copyright

  This book is dedicated to these first readers,

  who “test” my work for me:

  Mary Darnell

  Hannah Johnson

  Alistair and Ian McNear

  Rachael Selk

  Rebecca Wilber

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This time you went beyond writing help and helped me live!

  Evangeline Denmark

  Jani Dick

  Michelle Garland

  Dianna Gay

  Cecilia Gray

  Jack Hagar

  Sharon Hinck

  Beth Jusino

  Krystine Kercher

  Paul Moede

  Jill Elizabeth Nelson

  Shannon and Troy McNear

  Stuart Stockton

  Faye Spieker

  Case Tompkins

  Elizabeth Wolford

  Laura Wright

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Alton—purple and black riding dragon, friend to Sir Kemry Allerion

  Ardeo—white and gray minor dragon, glows in the dark

  Armin—marione from Trese, in the employ of Paladin’s army

  Bardon—o’rant and emerlindian knight in service to Paladin

  Becca-ree—blue minor dragon, a messenger

  Leetu Bends—emerlindian in the service of Paladin, recently undercover in Creemoor

  Benrey—a rare, red fire dragon and a riding dragon belonging to Sir Kemry Allerion

  Botzy—female marione innkeeper in Black Jetty

  Farmer Brigg—marione who befriended Kale at the beginning of her journeys

  Brite—wolf friend of Granny Noon

  Bug—male ropma collecting dragons for Crim Cropper

  Wizard Burner Stox—evil female wizard, married to Crim Cropper

  Wizard Cam Ayronn—lake wizard from Trese

  Celisse—Kale’s black and white riding dragon

  Clive—one of Kemry’s many major dragons

  Colly—marione musician in Black Jetty

  Wizard Crim Cropper—evil male wizard, experiments with genetics, married to Burner Stox

  Sir Dar—doneel diplomat and statesman

  Dibl—yellow and orange minor dragon, reveals humor in situations, lightens the hearts of his companions

  Dobkin—a slow-witted major dragon, friend of Kemry

  Doxden—cook at inn in Black Jetty

  Wizard Fenworth—deceased bog wizard from Wynd

  Filia—pink minor dragon, enthusiastic about all things, collects knowledge, some of it quite trivial

  Gilda—meech dragon, lives in a bottle to keep from dissipating because of a spell Risto put on her

  Greer—Bardon’s riding dragon, purple with cobalt wings

  Gymn—green minor dragon, heals

  Hollen—one of Sir Kemry’s major dragons

  Lord Ire—another name used by Pretender

  Izz—female kimen living in Trese

  Sir Jilles—Bardon’s uncle

  Sir Joffa—Bardon’s father

  Kale Allerion—o’rant wizard and Dragon Keeper, married to Bardon

  Sir Kemry Allerion—Kale’s father, also a Dragon Keeper

  Granny Kye—Bardon’s emerlindian grandmother

  Lo Kyl—soldier in Bardon’s camp

  Latho—bisonbeck spy

  Leemiz—cook in army camp

  Librettowit—tumanhofer librarian in Kale and Bardon’s castle

  Lyll Allerion—Kale’s mother

  Lo Mak—soldier in Paladin’s palace

  Merlander—Dar’s red and purple riding dragon

  Metta—purple minor dragon, sings

  Magistrate Moht—judge in Paladin’s court

  Wizard Namee—Paladin’s right-hand man at court

  Mistress Nidell—housekeeper at Paladin’s palace

  Granny Noon—emerlindian, friend of Kale, Bardon, Regidor, and Gilda

  N’Rae—Bardon’s emerlindian cousin

  Paladin—ailing leader of Amara

  Pat—chubby brown minor dragon, fixes things

  Poe—one of Kemry’s many major dragons

  Prattack—Cropper’s servant

  Pretender—ruler of the evil populace of Amara

  Rain—Bug’s wife

  Regidor—meech dragon, in search of a colony of lost meech dragons, likes fancy things

  Wizard Risto—evil wizard killed by Fenworth

  Sho—philosopher and genius observer of ancient times whose mostly lost works have accrued legendary acclaim

  Grand Sorn—emerlindian in charge of Paladin’s health

  Streen—one of Sir Kemry’s major dragons

  Granny Toe—curmudgeon emerlindian living in Trese

  Toopka—doneel child, under guardianship of Kale and Sir Dar

  Traysian—chambermaid assigned to help Bardon when he contracted stakes

  Veryan—one of Kemry’s many major dragons

  Leecent Voet—man assigned to be Bardon’s batman while the knight recovered

  Wardeg—one of Kemry’s many major dragons

  Wulder—the creator and one true, living God of Amara

  Yent—kimen from Trese in the employ of Paladin’s army

  1

  TREASURE

  Sir Bardon gripped his struggling wife in his arms.

  “You’re not rushing into that battered building, Kale.” He lowered his voice to a more soothing tone. “Come on, lady of mine. You can control this urge.”

  With his arm encircling her waist, he felt her take a deep breath and let it out slowly. He loosened his grasp but remained wary. In this state she couldn’t be trusted. Her talent sabotaged her judgment. Perhaps words of reason would override her compulsion.

  “Remember, Kale, we must find Regidor and Gilda before it is too late.”

  Kale’s body tensed, and he reacted by tightening his hold just before she tried to lunge out of his arms toward the inn.

  �
��Bardon, please.” Her voice broke on the last word.

  “I’m just as determined to keep you here as you are to go. Relax, Kale. Think.”

  He scanned the building she wanted to enter. One end had collapsed under the barrage of a recent battle. The other smoldered sullenly.

  The muscles in Bardon’s face tightened. Fire dragons. I wonder how many?

  A drenching rain had doused the flames. How long ago? Where are the people to answer my questions?

  The rain had finally stopped. The villagers had collected their dead. But still the acrid smells of war permeated the air.

  “I have to go in, Bardon.” Kale’s voice shuddered as she pushed ineffectively against his hold.

  “Yes, I know. All I’m asking is that you think first. That you plan.”

  She leaned her head back against his chest. Her skin smelled of citrus. He inhaled, relishing the fragrance, and rubbed his cheek against her hair. The brown locks in curly twists bounced against his face, tickling his nose.

  Bardon regulated his breathing, willing Kale to fall into the same pattern, to draw from his reserve and strengthen her own.

  She ceased twitching. “I’ll take Ardeo to light the way.”

  “Good,” said Bardon.

  Six minor dragons roosted on the saddle of Kale’s horse. Their varied colors distinguished them as belonging to a special species both intelligent and willing to work with the seven high races. Ardeo flew from his companions and landed on Bardon’s shoulder.

  On this cloudy day, the dragon’s pale skin looked mottled. In sunshine, his coloring resembled old pasty porridge. But in the dark, the dragon glowed with a moonlike aura.

  Kale quivered within Bardon’s arms. “I’ll take Pat to help me pick the safest route.”

  Another of the minor dragons flew to roost on her shoulder. He snuggled his plump brown body under her ear, rubbing his head against her chin with affection.

  “Good.” Bardon approved. The fix-it dragon would analyze the danger in the weakened building. Still, Bardon didn’t much care for Kale going into the inn.

  Her muscles stiffened, and he tightened his hold. He spoke to focus her attention. “What else? Think.”

  “I’ll wear my moonbeam cape. That’ll protect me some against splinters and scrapes.”

  “Fine.” Bardon relaxed his grip. “You’ll move slowly, with caution? You’ll listen to Pat?”

  “Yes.” Kale nodded, her eyes fixed on the charred front door.

  Pat and Ardeo flew into the air and circled above the yard. Bardon dropped his arms to his side, and his wife took a step toward the shattered inn. Quickly, he placed a hand on her arm and turned her toward the horses.

  “The cape,” he said.

  “I forgot.”

  He positioned himself between her and the building until she pulled the garment from her saddlebag and draped it over her shoulders. He grasped the front lapels and pulled her to him, fastened the tie at her neck, and kissed her forehead.

  “Stay out of trouble.”

  He watched her eyes focus, knowing her thoughts had finally settled on him, just him. A twinkle brightened the hazel gaze, replacing that distant look.

  She mocked a curtsy. “Yes, my knight.”

  Without a doubt, his wife was a winsome creature.

  “Remember, you are my fair wizard.”

  She tipped her face up with a saucy smile. Then he watched the awareness of him fade from her expression to be overtaken by the compulsion to enter that dangerous inn.

  He sighed and tenderly, but reluctantly, turned her away. She stepped forward without another word.

  “Kale, don’t be long. We haven’t time.” Bardon gestured to the two small dragons she had chosen to accompany her. “Pat, Ardeo, take care of her.”

  Kale passed under a tilted entryway where the large beamed framework threatened to crash down around her. An ominous creak caused her to hop over the mantel. Inside, a splintered door lay across piles of rubble. Most of the south wall had crumbled into a pile of rock and plaster. Above her, clouds provided a roof for the front third of the building. She zigzagged around broken furniture and rough boards that might have been part of the upstairs flooring.

  With cautious steps, Kale made her way to the back. Pat and Ardeo darted through the air. Pat chirred his displeasure at the lack of stability in the building.

  The ceiling sagged, and she ducked under a half-fallen beam. A cascade of bed linens flowed from a hole in the ceiling. Ardeo and Pat flew to the second story, circled, and returned. The light dragon twittered.

  Kale nodded. “Not a living soul in the ruin. Fine.”

  No one to interfere with her mission. Pat’s thoughts bombarded her with vivid details of the devastation to the inn. She wasn’t interested in what remained above, except that she preferred no loose flooring fall on her.

  She braced herself against the pull of her talent. Downward. She must move downward. She must find the steps to the cellar.

  Stepping on a small pile of debris, she slid. Her foot landed on more secure flooring, and she steadied herself. A reminder. She must take care. She had made Bardon a solemn promise. Pat uttered a series of shrieks, another reminder.

  In the kitchen, pottery, dishes, and cutlery had rattled from the shelves. A broken sack of flour spilt over a sturdy table. But the walls stood upright, and only a few piles of plaster from the ceiling showed the beating the structure had taken.

  Pat’s stomach rumbled. Kale glanced his way, expecting him to swoop to forage the table, but he took no notice of the scraps of food and concentrated on what he could see of the studs and braces. Kale stepped forward before he reported on their soundness, and he hissed a warning she ignored.

  She moved along the wall, heading for a door that most probably hid the pantry or the steps to the cellar. As she passed the hearth, she wrinkled her nose at the smell of old green stem vegetables in a pot. An unrecognizable boiled-dry mass lined the bottom of another kettle. Cold ashes lay in the fireplace.

  The details of her surroundings helped her focus, helped her restrain the impulse to press forward. But her eyes locked on a door, and she felt a surge of urgency rush through her.

  The cellar.

  She stumbled across the room, one hand stretched ahead, ready to raise the latch.

  Pat chirruped.

  A mixture of words and images came from the small dragon’s mind, urging her to change directions. Kale hesitated, then veered off to another door and swung it open, expecting to find a stairway. She jerked back, repelled by the foul odor of spoiled food. Pickled cucumbers, beets, and cabbage poured from broken crocks littering the floor. She lifted her arm to cover her nose with the moonbeam cape. Slamming the door shut, she glowered at the brown dragon sitting on a wooden counter.

  “Pat! What in all of Amara were you thinking?”

  The message came to her clearly. The dragon wanted her to slow down and be more cautious. He’d tricked her into opening the wrong door to demonstrate his point.

  “All right. I understand your concern.” She used cleansing breaths to help her focus. Standing still took effort. Even as she inhaled for the third time, her feet started moving toward the other door.

  “I promised Bardon.”

  She managed to open the door slowly. The dark passage led downward over stone steps.

  “Ardeo,” she called.

  The dragon flew around her and downward. His skin glowed like moonlight as soon as he descended into the shadows below.

  Forgetting caution, Kale plunged down the steps. Pat landed on her head and dug his claws into her scalp.

  “Ouch!” She winced and batted at him with her hands. “All right. All right.”

  She stopped on the last step and surveyed the crates and barrels, then pointed in the direction of the pull.

  “That way.”

  Ardeo flew ahead. Pat remained with his feet planted firmly in her hair.

  Kale hurried, barely realizing that she had doubled ba
ck under the most damaged part of the inn. Pat sent her frantic messages to watch where she stepped, to avoid debris hanging from the sagging ceiling, and to slow down.

  Kale moved with determination to a row of baskets hanging on ropes along one wall. The woven containers of various sizes reached across the space like clothes on a line.

  Only one attracted her. She grabbed a creel-like storage bin and pulled it toward her. The rope gave way, and all the other baskets tumbled to the floor. Heedless of the spill, Kale plunged her hand beneath the covering cloth and pulled out a handful of onions. She threw them over her shoulder and reached in again. More onions. She turned the basket upside down and shook it. Nothing but onions. She dropped the basket and stared at the wall.

  Placing her hands against the dirt, she felt energy swell within her fingertips. With her teeth gritted and her breath held, she tried to order her thoughts. To think instead of acting on the compulsion caused sweat to bead on her brow.

  Move the dirt. Dig. With what? A spell. Pull. Pull.

  The dirt crumbled into her hands. She concentrated.

  Pull. Pull.

  The hard-packed soil came apart and fell out of the wall. She brushed more away and reached in. Another basket. She tugged it free and held it tightly to her chest. She’d found the treasure.

  Ardeo landed on her shoulder. His soft glow illuminated a dirty cloth stuffed in the narrow neck of this peculiar container. The woven creation of straw and reed looked more like a gourd than any basket she had ever seen.

  Kale pulled the disintegrating material from the top and looked inside.

  “Four eggs,” she whispered. “Four dragon eggs.”

  Pat slid down her hair to perch on the other shoulder.

  “Minor dragon eggs. It’s been so long since I found any, I almost forgot what the lure felt like.”

  Pat chittered.

  “Yes, I know,” she answered. “We have to find Regidor and Gilda. We should be asking for news of them in occupied taverns.”

  Pat and Ardeo chorused another warning.

  Kale gazed at her find lovingly.

  Pat put tiny teeth on her earlobe and pinched.

  Kale jerked. “All right! I understand. The building is unstable. We’ll leave now.”

  She transferred the precious eggs into the pockets lining her cape.

  She crossed the cellar space and climbed the stairs. Now that Kale had her prize, she couldn’t wait to get out of the inn. The urgent need to find Gilda resurfaced, and she almost ran to where Bardon waited. Pat flew in her face and batted his wings against her cheeks.